The pharmacology and clinical application of thrombopoietin receptor agonists.

The discovery and application of thrombopoietin (TPO) and thrombopoietin receptor (TPOR) agonists have changed the clinical treatment of thrombocytopenia. These compounds exert favorable clinical effects without the adverse events caused by traditional treatments (e.g., corticosteroids, immunoglobulins, monoclonal antibodies and splenectomy). This review provides a synopsis of new agents that boost platelet production, especially the TPOR agonists, and highlights their pharmacological characteristics and clinical applications.